Bad experiences

[softballmom3]

We, too, haven't really experienced any of the bad stuff you hear about. We love Disney and everything can't and won't be perfect if you sweat the small stuff . Anyone can have a bad day so I always just try and follow the Golden Rule .

 

[Phatoomch]

Unruly guests, attractions closed for days at a time, drunks at Epcot? I'm hoping these are exceptions rather than the norm. I've been to WDW 7 times in the last 14 years and I have never experienced any of these things. I just joined these boards recently in anticipation of our upcoming January trip. I've heard quite a few posters express that Disney isn't what it used to be. It's kind of taking the wind out of my sails for our next visit. Are these experiences really more common than they used to be or do people tend to share negative experiences more often than positive ones?

I think people are quicker to post a complaint than a positive event. I always use my Grandmother as a perfect example: if a bus comes immediately, there is no comment. If she waits 10-15mins, she will tell everyone that crosses her path that day "the buses were AWFUL today, I waited over 30mins for one, infact, it was nearer to an hour!"

Ignore the negatives, you will have a wonderful trip

 

[rotlex]

Funny you posted this. My wife and I, along with our 2 kids, just came off a 10 night stay at WDW. We had a GREAT trip, as we always do, this is our 8th with the kids, but something was definitely "off".

There were a LOT of rude people in the parks. I saw things I never saw before, like a guy literally hopping out of the boat on Pirates to take a picture. Yeah, really. I saw things like people letting there kids walk into the gardens around Epcot to take pictures, and many more things I have either not seen, or been oblivious to before. This is not meant as a negative, but I noticed quite a few of them to be non english speaking guests. They were down right rude.

I also noticed the cast members were far, far, FAR less happy, Disney, magical than they have been in the past. Yeah, we still got some good ones, but overall, I think they are sick of the rude, idiot guests too. I know I would be.

Regarding issues with rides. We had at least one major attraction in each park break down, or be down all day, during our trip. Never had this before either.

I've been going to Disney for a long time. I'm 45, and been doing this since I'm 10. It HAS gotten worse, and it is NOT the same as it was even 10 years ago. Does Disney care? Probably not. They are raking in more money than ever, and frankly, I don't think they care about much else anymore.

Will I continue to go? Sure, for now, as it is still a good value compared to other things, but if anyone thinks it hasn't changed for the worse, they are wearing some Disney goggles or something.

 

[Phatoomch]

I'm so sick of hearing about how we are turning into a "me first" society. No we aren't. Those people's parents were like that. That's where they got it from. It's no different than it's ever been. You see one family out of ten thousand acting crazy and we have to hear lectures about what is becoming of society.

LOL Love your post!

Its funny - I see all this stuff online all the time about this generations 'self-entitlement' .... the older generation were saying exactly the same about us back in the 80's I think the difference is now we are able to put it out there to hundreds/thousands/millions of people through social media.

 

[njmeisje]

I don't think people like to complain - I think one's experience really depends upon when you go, and the crowd levels at that time. We've gone 2 times a year for the past 8 - 10 years. Most of our trips have been great. Last Christmas, a man physically pushed my husband with both hands -- shoving him, so he could board the Epcot tram in the parking lot. We were shocked. I had never seen such behavior from an adult. The park was a mad house. It was not enjoyable. But crowds do bring out the worst in people...even in Disney. The man should be ashamed of himself, and I told him so -- in front of his children.

So just be aware that this is what Christmas, Spring Break and Summer bring to the experience.

Diane

 

[mking624]

I can only recall one "bad" experience that we had on a Disney trip and it was about 5 years ago or something.
We had done a DVC tour and were being driven to Epcot by a CM so we could go to our ADR. On the way there, the CM was complaining about everything. I mean EVERYTHING. He started complaining that MNSSHP was starting earlier and earlier with each passing year and he was upset they were starting that night. We failed to let him know we were going to it that night. He started complaining about other things. Then he randomly started complaining about some sort of tax somewhere. Somehow we moved on to what my husband did for a living and he managed to find something to complain about that....just on and on and on. Now, I don't want to give the impression that it really bothered us. It actually didn't. We were eager to see what next topic we could come up with to find out what complaints he had. It was almost a game to us. When we arrived at Epcot and got out of the van, we started laughing hard. It is now an occasional joke between us to just go off on complaining rants about the most random thing. Yet I know I'd be seeing people say how that CM ruined their vacation or something similar had they been in that position.

Moral of the story? Don't let every get under your skin. Even a bad attitude cast member can have a silver lining. If you let everything get to you, you are going to have a bad time. I would rather look for the positive than focus on the negative and complain.

 

[larryz]

That happened to me. I just got $20's from an ATM and went to McDonalds drive-thru. Realized at the pick-up window that I got change for a $10. They had me park while they counted the drawer. Not 3 minutes later they brought me a $10. What I do now is fan out the bills, in front of the cashier, and check it. A few times there's $1-$2 missing. Bad cashiering?

I say "out of $20" when I hand a cashier a $20. They usually put it on the ledge as they count out my change (after they run the counterfeit test). Very seldom do they put it right into the $20s bin...

 

[larryz]

I can only recall one "bad" experience that we had on a Disney trip and it was about 5 years ago or something.
We had done a DVC tour and were being driven to Epcot by a CM so we could go to our ADR. On the way there, the CM was complaining about everything. I mean EVERYTHING. He started complaining that MNSSHP was starting earlier and earlier with each passing year and he was upset they were starting that night. We failed to let him know we were going to it that night. He started complaining about other things. Then he randomly started complaining about some sort of tax somewhere. Somehow we moved on to what my husband did for a living and he managed to find something to complain about that....just on and on and on. Now, I don't want to give the impression that it really bothered us. It actually didn't. We were eager to see what next topic we could come up with to find out what complaints he had. It was almost a game to us. When we arrived at Epcot and got out of the van, we started laughing hard. It is now an occasional joke between us to just go off on complaining rants about the most random thing. Yet I know I'd be seeing people say how that CM ruined their vacation or something similar had they been in that position.

Moral of the story? Don't let every get under your skin. Even a bad attitude cast member can have a silver lining. If you let everything get to you, you are going to have a bad time. I would rather look for the positive than focus on the negative and complain.

Any chance he was just trying out his "comedic" dialogue with you?

 

[mking624]

Any chance he was just trying out his "comedic" dialogue with you?

If he was, I don't think it would have been nearly as funny. You could tell this guy was just NOT all sunshine and rainbows...he was grumpy and was gonna let you know. And that is what made it so funny to us.

 

[dvc one day]

I'm so sick of hearing about how we are turning into a "me first" society. No we aren't. Those people's parents were like that. That's where they got it from. It's no different than it's ever been. You see one family out of ten thousand acting crazy and we have to hear lectures about what is becoming of society.

This post reminded me of some articles I read from the early 1900's. The people in the articles were talking about how disrespectful the youth of today are and the general decline in society.

It was funny because they could have been written yesterday.

 

[andyman8]

LOL Love your post!

Its funny - I see all this stuff online all the time about this generations 'self-entitlement' .... the older generation were saying exactly the same about us back in the 80's I think the difference is now we are able to put it out there to hundreds/thousands/millions of people through social media.

I have to agree with both you and Senator. This generation's "entitlement" is no different than your's or your parents'.

 

[lilipad]

I have to agree with both you and Senator. This generation's "entitlement" is no different than your's or your parents'.

Only now it goes viral in a matter of minutes.

 

[phoebusII]

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for
authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents,
chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their
legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
-Socrates, 5th century BC

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders,
they disobey their parents. They ignore the law.
They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions.
Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"
-Plato,5th century BC

 

[2girls4me]

We've been 4times since 2001 (not nearly as many as most of you, but still) we have never had a bad experience. We are going in march and are looking forward to a good time.

I don't think we are a "me" society. There are more people willing to help, then those that will walk past. People are selfish, but so what, that is hardly anything new.

 

[andyman8]

Only now it goes viral in a matter of minutes.

Or is put on TLC...

 

[mefordis]

I'm so sick of hearing about how we are turning into a "me first" society. No we aren't. Those people's parents were like that. That's where they got it from. It's no different than it's ever been. You see one family out of ten thousand acting crazy and we have to hear lectures about what is becoming of society.

I agree. When I hear people saying that we are becoming selfish and an entitled society, I feel those people don't know their history very well. US or World history.

 

[mefordis]

I posted before I read this. Thanks!

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for
authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents,
chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their
legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
-Socrates, 5th century BC

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders,
they disobey their parents. They ignore the law.
They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions.
Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"
-Plato,5th century BC

 

[rznhal]

We've gone three times in three years....awesome trips, awesome memories.....we love disney!!!!!!

 

[larryz]

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for
authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents,
chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their
legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
-Socrates, 5th century BC

"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders,
they disobey their parents. They ignore the law.
They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions.
Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?"
-Plato,5th century BC

Sadly, today it's not just the kids -- but their parents as well...

 

[bizzarehippy]

We were just there a few weeks ago and we had one heck of a bus ride to MK on our last day. This guy seriously could have been drunk. Hitting curbs, slamming on the brakes and my kids and I (standing on crowded bus!) slammed into the metal partition thing near the rear doors. I was MAD! That guy was SO lucky that someone didn't get truly hurt. I made sure to take a pic of his bus # and made a complaint. That guy could have killed someone. I spoke with the transportation dept and they were so grateful for the call. I still wonder if anyone else on that bus complained.

As for rude guests? The worst was the Russian family that thought it just fine to smoke in the bus line at Pop Century. After my aunt asked them nicely to move out of the line they screamed obscenities at us in Russian the whole time in line. It was almost comical. I do think my aunt pushed it when she sang God Bless America. lol

None of that ruined our trip though! It was truly an amazing trip and exceeded every expectation! I'm now obsessed and driving my family nuts wanting another trip. lol